Last updated: 1 January, 2026 | Inspired by nownownow.com

I’m Ramon Stoppelenburg, a Dutch writer, translator, and digital pioneer currently based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This page gives you a snapshot of what I’m focused on right now.

🇳🇱 Dutch version

📍 Where Am I Now?

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – my creative and spiritual home base since 2010.

💼 What I’m Working On

Writing & Journalism

  • Essays & columns for leading Dutch newspapers de Volkskrant and NRC
  • Writing in progress:
    Het Laatste Hostel (The Last Hostel) – exploring digital identity, performative freedom, and the search for authenticity in an always-on world in Dutch;
    Always Almost There: A Memoir – a brutally honest and darkly funny English memoir about chasing geographical solutions to existential problems, only to discover that everyone else is running toward their own version of “elsewhere.” Based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023.
    Eat Out, Lose Fat – my book about building a healthier relationship with food without sacrificing the joy of dining out

Translation & Language Services

Current clients:

Available for freelance projects on Upwork

Business Consulting

I help SME entrepreneurs in Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Portugal optimize their operations – from hotel management to restaurant efficiency and memorable events. Smart strategies that don’t break the bank.

🐱 Meet My Cats

Fifty Shady (2014) and Chickpea (2024) keep me company. Here’s Shady:

🚀 Current Projects

Creative Works

  1. 📚 Eat Out, Lose Fat – Final drafting phase of this English book about building a healthier relationship with dining out without sacrificing joy;
  2. 📖 Het Laatste Hostel – Dutch novel about digital identity and what remains when you go offline;
  3. 📖 Always Almost There: A Memoir – A brutally honest and darkly funny memoir about a former successful expat who keeps chasing geographical solutions to existential problems, only to discover that everyone else—from Moroccan locals to American compound dwellers—is running toward their own version of “elsewhere.” These memoirs are based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023;
  4. 🎬 Undertow– Four-part limited drama series (Isle of Man, UK) pitch under development;
  5. 🎬 Flagged – Eight-part limited crime thriller series (Thailand/Australia setting) pitch under development;
  6. 📰 The Quiet Reader – Literary magazine I founded in 2020, relaunched with fresh vision;

Business Ventures

  1. Expedition Kilimanjaro – Tour company I’ve directed since 2008 (16+ years of getting people up that mountain!)
  2. Lord Penh – the no–frills event guide for Phnom Penh
  3. Phnom Penh Passport – a compact discount and benefits passport that allows you to explore Phnom Penh more cheaply and enjoyably
  4. Tuktukvertising – an accessible form of outdoor advertising in which advertisements travel on tuktuks and can be seen everywhere
  5. Toiletvertising – a smart, affordable, and eye-catching form of advertising in places where everyone goes

🌴 On My Bucket List

Palawan, Philippines – Craving the blue waters, lagoons, and beaches of El Nido and the Calamian Islands for some fresh travel inspiration on my walls.

🌐 Find Me Online

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